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A Responsible and Safe Weight-Loss Program
A responsible and safe weight-loss program should be able to document for you the five following features:
- The diet should be safe. It should include all of the
Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals, and
protein. The weight-loss diet should be low in calories (energy)
only, not in essential foodstuffs.
- The weight-loss program should be directed towards a slow,
steady weight loss unless your doctor feels your health
condition would benefit from more rapid weight loss. Expect to
lose only about a pound a week after the first week or two. With
many calorie-restricted diets there is an initial rapid weight
loss during the first I to 2 weeks, but this loss is largely
fluid. The initial rapid loss of fluid also is regained rapidly
when you return to a normal-calorie diet. Thus, a reasonable
goal of weight loss must be expected.
- If you plan to lose more than 15 to 20 pounds, have any
health problems, or take medication on a regular basis, you
should be evaluated by your doctor before beginning your
weight-loss program. A doctor can assess your general health and
medical conditions that might be affected by dieting and weight
loss. Also, a physician should be able to advise you on the need
for weight loss, the appropriateness of the weight-loss program,
and a sensible goal of weight loss for you. If you plan to use a
very-low-calorie diet (a special liquid formula diet that
replaces all food intake for I to 4 months), you definitely
should be examined and monitored by a doctor.
- Your program should include plans for weight maintenance
after the weight loss phase is over. It is of little benefit to
lose a large amount of weight only to regain it. Weight
maintenance is the most difficult part of controlling weight and
is not consistently implemented in weight-loss programs. The
program you select should include help in permanently changing
your dietary habits and level of physical activity, to alter a
lifestyle that may have contributed to weight gain in the past.
Your program should provide behavior modification help,
including education in healthy eating habits and long-term plans
to deal with weight problems. One of the most important factors
in maintaining weight loss appears to be increasing daily
physical activity, often by sensible increases in daily
activity, as well as incorporating an individually tailored
exercise program.
- A commercial weight-loss program should provide a detailed
statement of fees and costs of additional items such as dietary
supplements.
Weight Control Must
Be Considered a Life-Long Effort
Obesity is a chronic condition. Too often it is viewed as a
temporary problem that can be treated for a few months with a
strenuous diet. However, as most overweight people know, weight
control must be considered a life-long effort. To be safe and
effective, any weight-loss program must address the long-term
approach or else the program is largely a waste of money and
effort.
Obesity affects about one in four adult Americans, and during
any one year, over half of Americans go on a weight-loss diet or
are trying to maintain their weight. For many people who try to
lose weight, it is difficult to lose more than a few pounds! and
few succeed in remaining at the reduced weight The difficulty in
losing weight and keeping it off leads many people to turn to a
professional or commercial weight-loss program for help. These
programs are quite popular and are widely advertised in
newspapers and on television. What is the evidence that any of
these programs is worthwhile, that they will help you lose
weight and keep it off and that they will do it safely?
Endnote: This statement was developed with the advice of
the National Task Force on Prevention and Treatment of Obesity,
a subcommittee of the National Digestive Diseases Advisory
Board.
The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a service of
the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health,
under the U.S. Public Health Service. Authorized by Congress
(Public Law 103-43), WIN assembles and disseminates to health
professionals and the public information on weight control,
obesity, and nutritional disorders. WIN responds to requests for
information; develops, reviews, and distributes publications; and
develops communications strategies to encourage individuals to
achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Publications produced by the clearinghouse are reviewed
carefully for scientific accuracy, content, and readability.
Information provided by (NIDDK) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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